News for Early Stage Researchers

Current newsletter of the Graduate Services

The newsletter of the Graduate Services is published quarterly. Here you will find current calls for proposals as well as news from the Academic Qualification Program, equal opportunities, university-internal graduate centres, and the Committee of PhD Representatives.

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Research career: Information events organised by the DFG

The German Research Foundation (DFG) offers a wide range of funding opportunities for postdoctoral researchers in the early career phase. The DFG regularly provides information about these opportunities in the online dialogue series "Prospects". Throughout the year, specific funding instruments and programmes for the period after the doctorate are presented in various online seminars. Also interesting for doctoral researchers!

The next events in the Prospects series are

• 31.08.2026, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CEST – The Walter Benjamin Programme
• 22.09.2026, 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. CEST – DFG funding Opportunities for Postdocs
• 07.10.2026, 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. CEST – The Heisenberg Programme
• 11.12.2026, 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. CET – The Emmy Noether Programme

Further information on the event and the slides of past lectures in the Prospects series can be found here.

Metropolitan Scholarship Program of the Studienstiftung

The scholarship program is aimed at students from all disciplines planning a semester of study, a research stay, or even an entire master's degree program in Central, Southeastern, or Eastern Europe, starting in the 2027/28 academic year. It is also open to applicants who have had little or no prior contact with the countries of Central, Southeastern, and Eastern Europe.

The scholarship funding can amount to nearly €33,000 per year. Applications are accepted until October 1, 2026.

Further information on the program structure and application requirements can be found on the Studienstiftung’s homepage.

Wilhelm Liebknecht Prize

In memory of Wilhelm Liebknecht, the Reichstag deputy and co-founder of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, who was born in Gießen on March 29, 1826, the university city of Gießen established the "Wilhelm Liebknecht Prize" in 1990.

The prize is awarded for outstanding historical and social science publications that address the social foundations for building and maintaining democratic societies. Independent works by individual scholars are eligible for recognition. In exceptional cases, the prize may be awarded to a research group. The Wilhelm Liebknecht Prize is endowed with €2,500 and is awarded every two years. 

For the Wilhelm Liebknecht Prize 2027, submissions are open for works published between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2026. Submissions must include a cover letter, letters of recommendation (if applicable), and a digital version of the work. 

Further information

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellowship

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Research Fellowship supports you as a highly qualified postdoc from Germany in conducting your research in Japan – regardless of discipline.

There are two separate funding lines: short-term postdoctoral fellowships, which sponsors research stays of 1–12 months, and standard postdoctoral fellowships for research stays lasting from 12–24 months. The Humboldt Foundation pre-selects applicants for fellowships of six months or more on behalf of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS); the DAAD selects the fellows applying for shorter funding periods in the short-term programme. Up to 17 short-term postdoctoral fellowships and up to 12 standard postdoctoral fellowships may be awarded per year.

Further information

DAAD scholarship programmes "Congress trips" and "Lecture trips"

Since 1 March 2023, the DAAD has once again been offering funding for participation in congresses and lectures.

In the congress travel programme, funding is provided for active congress participation, in the lecture travel programme for lecture activities outside congresses and conferences. You can find the calls for applications at www.daad.de/kongressreisen and www.daad.de/vortragsreisen.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the DAAD Info Centre. You can reach our counsellors on 0228-882 180 at the following times: Monday to Thursday 9am - 12pm and 2pm - 4pm (CEST), Friday 9am - 2pm (CEST), or via the DAAD contact form.

"Writing Friday" for doctoral students

schreibzentrum.berlin offers doctoral candidates free online writing days. On the first Friday of every month, from 9.30 am to 12.00 pm, doctoral candidates meet with like-minded people and are supported in their writing by experienced writing coaches with the help of moderation techniques and writing exercises.

The programme is aimed at doctoral candidates from all disciplines and at all stages of writing. It is possible to join the programme at any time.

Registration and further information on the programme can be found here.

DocColloq for doctoral candidates

DocColloq, which was founded at Trier University in 2018 by research assistants Camilla Haake and Natalie Tröller, is an interdisciplinary network for doctoral candidates from all disciplines and all institutional affiliations.

In regular, digital meetings via Zoom, doctoral candidates from all disciplines from all over Germany are brought together to promote and strengthen the exchange between doctoral candidates and their networking with each other. This exchange format has proven to be very helpful, especially in times of strong isolation due to the coronavirus measures and the digitalisation of teaching and research. Experience has shown that doctoral students face the same problems again and again, regardless of the subject they are doing their doctorate in, according to the two founders. During the meetings, up to three doctoral students present their current research in short 15-minute presentations. This is followed by a joint discussion.

All doctoral students are invited, regardless of which university or college you are doing your doctorate at, regardless of your specialisation or stage of doctorate, and regardless of whether you would like to present your research yourself or just listen!

Interested parties are asked to register by sending an e-mail to doccolloq@uni-trier.de. A link for the Zoom event will be sent to you.

FAZIT Foundation

The FAZIT Foundation is a non-profit publishing company that specifically promotes science and research by awarding doctoral scholarships and grants for printing and travel costs.

Applications for a two-year doctoral scholarship as well as grants for printing costs and travel expenses are possible at any time.

The foundation provides information on further requirements and submissions of application on its website.